Improvement in clutching and braking devices for power-driven sewing-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIGE.

FREDERICK G. TEES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO LEOPOLDSTERNBEBGER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLUTCHING AND BRAKING DEVICES FOR POWER-DRIVENSEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,71 1, dated March25, 1879; application filed October 17, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. TEEs, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in (llutching and BrakingDevices for Power-Driven Sewing-Machines, of which the following is aspecification:

The main object of my invention is to pre- 'vent the access of oil tothe leather or equivalent elastic frictiondisk used in connection withthe clutching apparatus of a power driving device for sewing-machines, afurther object being compactness in the arrangement of the parts of theclutch.

These objects I attain in the manner which I will now proceed todescribe, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigures 1 and 2 are sectional views of two different forms of apparatuswhereby my invention is carried into effect and Fig. 3, a transversesection on the line 1 2, Fig. 1.

In Figs. 1 and 3, A represents aframe, preferably of cast-iron, havingbearings a a for a longitudinal shaft, B, and a bearing, 12, for atransverse rock-shaft, D, the top of the frame A being flat, so thatsaid frame can be firmly bolted to the under side of the table a: of asewing-machine. Sliding loosely on the shaft B is a sleeve, G, on oneend of which is formed a disk, (I, a pulley, 0, being secured to theopposite end of the sleeve, and a ring, f, being clamped between the hubof said pulley and a shoulder on the sleeve. The ring f has projectin gpins adapted to openings in a lever, J, secured to the rock-shaft D, thelatter also having an arm, I which is connected to the treadle of themachine by any suitable rodthe pitman-rod of the ordinary machine, forinstance. To the shaft B is bolted or otherwise secured a hub, g, havinga number of arms, '5, which carry a ring, m, and to the latter is firmlybolted an annular plate, M, the said plate, with the ring m, arms 2',and hub g, forming a cage, which incloses the disk (1, not, however, soclosely as to prevent free longitudinal movement of the latter to acertain extent. The plate M has a projecting flange, w, which forms therim of a pulley, the belt from the latter passing up through openings inthe frame A and table .29, and over the pulley on the main shaft of thesewing-machine. (Shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3.) On the face of thedisk d, adjacent to the inner face of the plateM, is aring, n, ofrubber, leather, cork, or other elastic or semi-elastic material, inorder to insure properfrictional efl'ect when the disk dis moved towardthe plate M, owing to the operation of the treadle, so as to move thelever J in the direction of the arrow. The pulley e is adapted for thereception of a belt which passes round a pulley on a power-driven shaftnear the floor, and when the disk d is moved up toward the plate M, asshown in Fig. 1, the rotation of the pulley e is transmitted, throughthe medium of the plate M, arms 6, and hub g, to the shaft B.

When the pressure on the treadle is removed, the action of a spring, 9against the end of the sleeve G causes the disk d to move away from theinner face of the plate M, so as to free the ring n from frictionalcontact therewith, a head, .9, on the end of the lever J coming intocontact with the outer face of the plate M, and effecting the instantstoppage of the rotation of the same.

In Fig. 2, although the essential features of my invention arepreserved, the details of the arrangement are somewhat modified. Forinstance, the shaft B is short and is carried entirely by one bearing,a, the other bearing carrying a fixed stud or pin, it, on which, and ina bearing, S, turns loosely the sleeve G.

A disk, M, secured to the end of the shaft B, takes the place of thecage and plate M of Fig. 1, while the brake 8 acts on the periphery ofthe disk instead of on the face of the plate.

It will be observed that both in Figs. 1 and 2 the friction ring or disk0?. is isolated from the shafts or bearings to which oil is applied.Thus, in Fig. 1, the hub of the disk at, forming part of the sleeve G,intervenes betweenthe ring a and the shaft B, while in Fig. 2 the bodiesof the disks M and d intervene between the bearings a and S and the diskn.

By this means I prevent the coating or saturation of the ring or disk11. with oil, and thereby maintain said ring or disk always in properworking condition.

It will be observed that the shaft, pulley, friction-clutch, and brakeare carried by a frame, which can be readily applied to or removed fromthe under side of the table of a sewing-machine.

By this means I am enabled, in a few moments, and without the removal ofany of the parts of an ordinary sewing-machine, to adapt the latter tobe driven by power, or to restore it to its original condition. This isa point of considerable importance, as there are numerous factories inwhich the sewing-machines are owned by the operatives, who do not wishsuch changes to be made in the machine as will interfere with theordinary foot-power driving appliances.

If desired, a crank may be formed on the shaft B and a fly-wheel securedto the end of the same, as shown by dotted lines, so that the said shaftmay be used in place of the ordinary shaft of the machine, even whenfootpower is used. This, however, is not essential.

I claim as my invention 1. A friction-clutch in which a portion of thebody or hub of the friction disk or disks intervenes between the elasticfriction ring or disk n and. the parts to which oil is applied, therebyisolating said ring or disk n, and preventing the saturation of the samewith oil, as set forth.

2. The combination of the shaft B and the disk 01, sliding thereon, withthe hub 9, arms '6, and plate M, forming a cage for inclosing the diskd, as specified.

3. The combination of the shaft B, the sliding disk d, and the plate M,having a flange, w, for forming the rim of apulley, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK G. TEES.

Witnesses ALEX. PATTERSON, HARRY SMITH.

